Using Redweek to rent my week

[Wei339]

I will be reserving my week for the summer of 2023 at Ko Olina with the intention of renting it. I will probably use Redweek for the rental but I had some concerns about two issues. Firstly, the liability in regards to damage caused by the renter. Does Redweek have an insurance policy with their service or can one be possibly purchased from them to cover damages? Secondly, I thought that I heard rumours that some owners were not given back their 50% refunds with cancellations due to covid. Instead the renter was given the full refund back. Was this true? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Mroze]

Haven't used RedWeek's insurance.

However, I was one of the owners who was not given any money back [100% refunded to renter] when 2 x renters canceled less than 60 days out.
Although I offered RedWeek that I would work with the renter on alternative accommodation they refused. RedWeek did give me credit for my listing fee.

 

[StevenTing]

For the reasons mentioned above, I will not have Redweek handle the payment portion. In terms of liability to the room, I don’t think it’s a risk you can mitigate. I have not heard of anyone “destroying” a room.

 

[Wei339]

For the reasons mentioned above, I will not have Redweek handle the payment portion. In terms of liability to the room, I don’t think it’s a risk you can mitigate. I have not heard of anyone “destroying” a room.

Thank you. I appreciate the advice.

 

[dioxide45]

KOALA is another option. I know they have liability insurance that covers the owner in the event of damage. That said, I have only heard of one instance in 15 years where an owner was charged due to damage caused by their renter.

 

[Wei339]

KOALA is another option. I know they have liability insurance that covers the owner in the event of damage. That said, I have only heard of one instance in 15 years where an owner was charged due to damage caused by their renter.

Thank you. It appears that damage happens in very few cases as you have mentioned.

 

[grupp]

I have used Redweek Booking over 40 times without any issues. I believe most if not all of the payment problems in the past occurred during the first few months of Covid, and I just missed having some of my rentals impacted by a few weeks. I am using them almost exclusively now and I understand the risks of them holding the money. But have found I can ask and receive a higher price if I use the Redweek verified and protected and have adjusted my pricing to take into account I am getting paid when they check-in instead of when the reservation is made. Obviously, others may have a different experience.

 

[deniseh]

I have found that when I used the full redweek listing where they handle it all that when I get a booking there is no negotiation, that the renter accepts the full price as listed. That being said I am reasonable in the price I list. I appreciate them handling the contract. I did have one booking where the renter canceled the day before. Luckily I was able to cancel the reservation and get the points back(although they were restricted). And I got the full amount of the booking deposited in my bank account.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Koala protects the owner, and I like that I get paid, even if the renter backs out. It's an assurance I appreciate, and the cost is pretty close to Redweek but no upfront cost to me. It's taken from the proceeds. Plus, included with the rental at no charge is protection for me, if the renter does something stupid at the resort (breaks a TV or something else in the unit or at the resort).

I still advertise on Redweek, don't get me wrong, but rentals have been through go-koala.com at 4 to 1 over Redweek. I don't use verify for many of my Redweek listings, so I might be comparing apples to oranges.

I did rent two weeks through Airbnb and am very pleased with that. But I am dropping off of Airbnb because I just don't think it works as well with timeshares, when I really only have about 4 rentals a year at the resort I list there. I didn't block off my calendar and got into trouble with a renter and Airbnb.

 

[CPNY]

But I am dropping off of Airbnb because I just don't think it works as well with timeshares, when I really only have about 4 rentals a year at the resort I list there. I didn't block off my calendar and got into trouble with a renter and Airbnb.

Same thing happened to me. I didn’t realize the calendar resets (first and last time using airbnb as a host). Someone booked 5 nights at the resort and I didn’t have the reservation. I cancelled the reservation and got a nasty gram from airbnb. I quickly deleted my host account and decided to not bother with that platform for timeshare rentals. I’d rather use Koala for the reasons you mentioned above

 

[rickandcindy23]

Same thing happened to me. I didn’t realize the calendar resets (first and last time using airbnb as a host). Someone booked 5 nights at the resort and I didn’t have the reservation. I cancelled the reservation and got a nasty gram from airbnb. I quickly deleted my host account and decided to not bother with that platform for timeshare rentals. I’d rather use Koala for the reasons you mentioned above

Koala is great. Redweek works fine as well, but I like the no listing fee option. I have listed timeshares on Redweek that didn't have a single inquiry, including Peacock Suites and my own Val Chatelle ski weeks. They could see I had no inquiries and wouldn't give me a refund.

I used to get a multiple listing discount with Redweek but that stopped as well.

 

[CPNY]

Koala is great. Redweek works fine as well, but I like the no listing fee option. I have listed timeshares on Redweek that didn't have a single inquiry, including Peacock Suites and my own Val Chatelle ski weeks. They could see I had no inquiries and wouldn't give me a refund.

I used to get a multiple listing discount with Redweek but that stopped as well.

Yeah that part really gets me. I hate having to pay upfront to list and I could end up renting on Facebook or in the marketplace (with credits) at no monetary cost to me. I put my first koala listing yesterday and couldn’t believe how easy it was. I even set up the payout system in 20 seconds. I set the rental price to net me what I would have via redweek. Crossing my fingers

 

[The Colorado Kid]

I enjoy Koala's numerous choices for cancellation options - much more flexible than Redweek. Also the customer service response from Koala is far superior to Redweek...altho that could change as Koala gets bigger.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I enjoy Koala's numerous choices for cancellation options - much more flexible than Redweek. Also the customer service response from Koala is far superior to Redweek...altho that could change as Koala gets bigger.

And they send emails to remind you that your cancellation date is getting close, so you don't forget to cancel a reservation. That alert has been so helpful to me. I forget sometimes!

I was going to list my five nights I have at Disney for next month on Redweek. I have five nights in a studio. When I looked at Redweek listings, there are so many that are RCI exchanges. I cannot compete with the price of an exchange. I know they are exchanges because the prices are very low, they are all one bedrooms, and the $190 fee is mentioned. I doubt it will rent on Redweek with that competition.

I may still give it a try because I haven't gotten results from Koala. It hasn't been up for long, and maybe I am being greedy with my price.

My rentals at Peacock Suites have been going on Koala like hotcakes. I do only reserve the 2 bedrooms, and I reserve school breaks and summer. I had so many points built up after Covid.

 

[dioxide45]

I was going to list my five nights I have at Disney for next month on Redweek. I have five nights in a studio. When I looked at Redweek listings, there are so many that are RCI exchanges. I cannot compete with the price of an exchange. I know they are exchanges because the prices are very low, they are all one bedrooms, and the $190 fee is mentioned. I doubt it will rent on Redweek with that competition.

Maybe they are II exchanges now?

 

[rickandcindy23]

Maybe they are II exchanges now?

Could be.

It would not be worth it to have my account cancelled. II is actually way better at monitoring sites like Redweek for blatant timeshare rentals. It's a given that they will find you for something like this. They used to police all of the websites for these rentals, and they definitely watch for prime Hawaii rentals. And of course there are tattle tales (like me) who tried to tattle on a few ebay sellers to RCI but I was not taken at all seriously. II will listen to snitches.

Best not to even start a business like that.

 

[grupp]

I enjoy Koala's numerous choices for cancellation options - much more flexible than Redweek. Also the customer service response from Koala is far superior to Redweek...altho that could change as Koala gets bigger.

Funny, I feel just the opposite on the cancelations policies and find the Koala cancellation choices to be much more restrictive for the person who is listing the rental. The only option I will use on Koala is Strict as the others all provide a full refund if cancelled before the specified time frame. Redweek also gives the option of customizing your own cancelation policy.

I do agree with with the more responsive customer service and also prefer the direct deposit from Koala. You have to pay a fee for direct deposit from Redweek, so I always just have them send a check.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Funny, I feel just the opposite on the cancelations policies and find the Koala cancellation choices to be much more restrictive for the person who is listing the rental. The only option I will use on Koala is Strict as the others all provide a full refund if cancelled before the specified time frame. Redweek also gives the option of customizing your own cancelation policy.

I do agree with with the more responsive customer service and also prefer the direct deposit from Koala. You have to pay a fee for direct deposit from Redweek, so I always just have them send a check.

Well, I like the strict choice. That is my favorite for most of my listings because I don't want to have to worry about a cancellation that is too late to cancel. Some listings are already within a cancellation window that costs me points. I am talking specifically about Peacock Suites. I have to cancel at 61+ days. 60 and less I get penalized 20%. 62 days is squeaky close.

 

[dioxide45]

Well, I like the strict choice. That is my favorite for most of my listings because I don't want to have to worry about a cancellation that is too late to cancel. Some listings are already within a cancellation window that costs me points. I am talking specifically about Peacock Suites. I have to cancel at 61+ days. 60 and less I get penalized 20%. 62 days is squeaky close.

I think some would like to see other options from KOALA like 50% cancellation penalty or perhaps a fixed cancellation fee, like 100% refund minus $200 fee. With a 20% penalty, you could instead offer a 75% refund option in the case of cancellation and a 25% cancellation penalty inside 62 days. An option like that may attract more even potential renters and allow you to charge a little more for the rental.

 

[jorcus]

When you rent with red week, At least with the trusted rental you have to sign a rental agreement which includes the following.

• 8. Renter agrees to maintain the Unit in the same condition as it was at the start of the Rental Period. Renter will pay for all repairs, replacement, and damages resulting from the act of neglect of Renter and guests. If requested at time of check-in, Renter will provide a credit card to the resort to secure payment for any such deposit, repairs, replacements, or damages.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I think some would like to see other options from KOALA like 50% cancellation penalty or perhaps a fixed cancellation fee, like 100% refund minus $200 fee. With a 20% penalty, you could instead offer a 75% refund option in the case of cancellation and a 25% cancellation penalty inside 62 days. An option like that may attract more even potential renters and allow you to charge a little more for the rental.

You should suggest that.

 

[rickandcindy23]

When you rent with red week, At least with the trusted rental you have to sign a rental agreement which includes the following.

• 8. Renter agrees to maintain the Unit in the same condition as it was at the start of the Rental Period. Renter will pay for all repairs, replacement, and damages resulting from the act of neglect of Renter and guests. If requested at time of check-in, Renter will provide a credit card to the resort to secure payment for any such deposit, repairs, replacements, or damages.

It doesn't matter what the agreement says. You cannot go back to the renter and ask for money later on. Will Redweek sue? I doubt it. The insurance is a nice perk of Koala. Even so, it could be tough to get a renter to admit fault and that is what the insurance does. The turnover on these units is six hours from one person to the next. That is how timeshare works.

Most exchangers and renters do take care of the units. One of my own renters broke the glass in the gas fireplace because he left it closed, which made it shatter. They offered to pay, but we chose to take all of the doors off of the fireplaces instead.

We had an exchanger from RCI at Val Chatelle who must have left the stove on all day, and the smoothtop shattered into a million pieces. They also left burned pans in the sink. Ironically, we have crockpots in our units so why leave the stove on? The HOA had no recourse. What are you going to do, bill their credit card $800 for a new stove? They will fight it. They will say it was that way when they checked in. The housekeepers' words against renters/ exchangers. It doesn't work.

 

[dioxide45]

When you rent with red week, At least with the trusted rental you have to sign a rental agreement which includes the following.

• 8. Renter agrees to maintain the Unit in the same condition as it was at the start of the Rental Period. Renter will pay for all repairs, replacement, and damages resulting from the act of neglect of Renter and guests. If requested at time of check-in, Renter will provide a credit card to the resort to secure payment for any such deposit, repairs, replacements, or damages.

KOALA included host insurance with every listing.

 

[pacman777]

I did rent two weeks through Airbnb and am very pleased with that. But I am dropping off of Airbnb because I just don't think it works as well with timeshares, when I really only have about 4 rentals a year at the resort I list there. I didn't block off my calendar and got into trouble with a renter and Airbnb.

It seems you're always pumping Koala for some reason (not sure if you have a vested interest in them) but you may already know that Koala gets most of their guests from re-listing your rental through them on Airbnb (just marked up). Basically playing middleman between an owner and Airbnb guests. Nothing against Koala as they are another good alternative to renting out timeshares and it's great to have diversity and competition (e.g Redweek, Airbnb, TUG, VRBO). It's great for those who don't want to hassle setting up an Airbnb listing and managing an Airbnb account as Koala makes it easy to list on their site, but let's not kid ourselves that the eyeballs they get for their website is probably less than 1% of Airbnb.

 

[rickandcindy23]

It seems you're always pumping Koala for some reason (not sure if you have a vested interest in them) but you may already know that Koala gets most of their guests from re-listing your rental through them on Airbnb (just marked up). Basically playing middleman between an owner and Airbnb guests. Nothing against Koala as they are another good alternative to renting out timeshares and it's great to have diversity and competition (e.g Redweek, Airbnb, TUG, VRBO). It's great for those who don't want to hassle setting up an Airbnb listing and managing an Airbnb account as Koala makes it easy to list on their site, but let's not kid ourselves that the eyeballs they get for their website is probably less than 1% of Airbnb.

I am for any way to rent my timeshare weeks after Covid, believe me. I had Shell and WorldMark points that I saved over the last few years after Covid. I rent on Koala and Redweek. Redweek came through for one 3-night stay at Disney, which I totally forgot to cancel, while Koala didn't. It rented almost immediately with Redweek. I give them kudos a lot for that. I also buy and sell on Redweek, but I don't use the verify option because they don't let you choose your own closing company, and theirs is slow and much more expensive, according to TUG posts.

My Resort Network sort of just faded out of existence, and I used to use that one a lot. They are still in business but not much there anymore, which is such a shame.

Perhaps Koala has to use Airbnb to build their business for a while. How are you going to let people know who you are, when Airbnb and VRBO are taking over every rental market. I want a website that is strictly for timeshare, so people know what they are getting.